UNCCD COP17: Mongolia Hosts Landmark Land Restoration Summit

Theme: "Restoring Land. Restoring Hope"
COP17 coincided with the United Nations International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP 2026)
Hosted by Mongolia, one of the most land-degraded countries (77% of its land is degraded)
Mongolia showcased its "Billion Trees" campaign (initiated 2021, target: 1 billion trees by 2030)

Drought Resilience Index (DRI): World's first comprehensive technical tool using AI-powered analytics and vulnerability mapping
Drought Resilience Investment Facility (DRIF): Global catalytic financing platform launched by UNCCD and Luxembourg
USD 1.3 billion announced in new and pipeline financing for land restoration
No legally binding drought treaty reached; drought will become a standalone agenda item from COP18
Countries failed to agree on legally binding global drought framework despite USD 278 billion annual finance gap

First-ever "Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs)" launched
Conservation focus on savannas, ravines, and deserts (Thar, Banni landscapes, Deccan savannas)
21.76 million hectares of degraded land restored under Bonn Challenge (target: 26 million hectares by 2030)
Advocated for pastoralists as custodians, citing Orans of Rajasthan as examples
Highlighted Sovereign Green Bonds and Green Credit Programme

Adopted: 1994
Status: Only legally binding international framework addressing desertification and drought effects
Origin: One of three "Rio Conventions" from the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro
Members: 197 Parties (196 countries + European Union)

Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN): Primary framework of UNCCD; aims to maintain/enhance land resources to support ecosystem functions (linked to SDG Target 15.3)
Conference of Parties (COP): Main decision-making body that reviews implementation and monitors LDN commitments
India's Role: Hosted COP14 in New Delhi (2019), adopted the New Delhi Declaration

Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership (COP16, 2024): USD 2.15 billion initial commitments
Business4Land Initiative: UNCCD's mechanism to engage private sector

Misguided afforestation treating Open Natural Ecosystems as wastelands
Soil degradation and salinization from intensive cultivation and excessive fertilizers
Nearly 40-45% of global rangelands are degraded (2024 UNCCD report)
In India: Rangelands cover 1.21 million sq. km, less than 5% protected
Grassland area declined from 18 million hectares (2005) to 12 million hectares (2015)

Fragmented responsibilities across forestry, agriculture, water, rural development
Reactive disaster management rather than anticipatory resilience-building
Weak ground-level soil-moisture monitoring
Inadequate Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems

Inadequate global financing compared to climate change and biodiversity initiatives
Private investment constrained by long gestation periods and land-tenure complexities
Climate change intensifying rainfall variability (heavy rainfall followed by prolonged dry spells)

Initiative	Focus Area
National Action Plan to Combat Desertification (NAPCD)	Umbrella framework for land restoration
PMKSY & Watershed Development	Rainwater harvesting, soil-moisture conservation
Green India Mission (GIM)	Forest restoration, carbon sequestration
Soil Health Card Scheme	Crop-specific nutrient recommendations
ISRO's Desertification Atlas	Remote sensing and GIS mapping
Mission Amrit Sarovar	Water body rejuvenation, groundwater recharge
Aravalli Green Wall Initiative	Restoring degraded Aravalli landscapes